44.13
In
order that he might not remain perfectly inactive in the enemy's country, the
consul sent M. Popilius with 5000 men to attack Meliboea. This city lies on
the lower spurs of Ossa, looking towards Thrace and in a position to
command Demetrias. At first the appearance of the enemy dismayed the
inhabitants, but on recovering from their alarm, they flew to arms and ran to
the gates and walls, wherever they suspected that an entrance might be
forced, and in this way put an end to any hopes that the city might be taken
at the first assault. Preparations were accordingly made for a regular siege
and the construction of the necessary works was commenced. Perseus heard
that Meliboea was being attacked by the consul's army and that the fleet was
lying off Iolcus, preparatory to an attack on Demetrias. He sent one of his
generals, a man called Euphranor, with a picked force of 2000 men to
Meliboea. This officer was ordered, in case he cleared the Romans away
from Meliboea, to make a secret march to Demetrias and enter the city
before the Romans advanced against it from Iolcus. His sudden appearance
on the ground above the Roman lines created great alarm amongst the
besiegers of Meliboea; their works were abandoned and burnt. The siege of
the one city being raised, Euphranor hurried on to Demetrias. In the night . .
. not only the walls . . . but even their fields they felt sure could be protected
from ravages. They made sorties and attacked the scattered groups of
plunderers, not without wounding many of them. However, the praetor and
Eumenes rode round the walls, examining the situation of the city, to see if
they could not make an attempt somewhere, either by siege-works or by
storm. There was a rumour that negotiations for the establishment of friendly
relations between Perseus and Eumenes had been carried on by Cydas of
Crete and Antimachus, the governor of Demetrias. At all events, the Romans
withdrew from Demetrias. Eumenes sailed away to visit the consul, and after
congratulating him upon his successful invasion of Macedonia, went home.
The praetor sent part of his fleet to Sciathus to lie up for the winter; with the
rest of his ships he steered for Oreum in Euboea, as he considered that city
the most suitable base from which supplies could be sent to the armies in
Macedonia and Thessaly. Very different accounts are given of Eumenes. If
you are to believe Valerius Antias, the praetor received no assistance from
his fleet, though he had often written for his co-operation, and further, when
he left for Asia, he was not on good terms with the consul, nor could the
consul induce him to leave behind the Gaulish cavalry whom he had brought
with him. Valerius goes on to say that Eumenes's brother Attalus remained
with the consul, was unswervingly loyal to him and rendered splendid service
in the war.
